Madison County’s Jake Westbrook was placed on the 15-day disabled list recently with a back strain.

Westbrook’s back pain has been a nagging issue for the past few weeks. According to Westbrook, he has been receiving treatment on his lower back for a few weeks and the pain peaked in his last start in Milwaukee.

“Coming back from (right elbow inflammation in May) and then from the DL was kind of just a feel thing, getting back in the swing of things, and then I guess it’s just my body is breaking down on me,” Westbrook said. “It’s just part of the innings that I’ve accumulated over my career. It’s one of those things. It’s been tough, been frustrating.”

Westbrook is 0-4 in his last five starts with a 9.69 ERA, and has struggled since posting a 2.88 ERA before the All-Star break. Westbrook doesn’t blame his back issues to his past struggles.

“It’s another one of those things that I have been fighting through,” said Westbrook about his back issues. “It’s been tight for a little bit. Just part of being old, I guess.”

With the playoffs right around the corner, it’s unsure at this point if the Cardinals’ playoff roster will include Westbrook as part of the rotation. Westbrook and the Cardinals hope that his 15 days on the disabled list will give him the rest he needs to settle his back issues.

“It’s always a grind going out there, “Westbrook said. “(I’ve) kind of been throwing through something the last couple years. It will always be something. But I try to battle through it, and there are no excuses for me. I never make any, I never will. (I) just haven’t been pitching very well.”